The Aftermath of a Mass Slaughter at the Zoo
Last year, a fox broke into a bird enclosure in D.C. and killed 25 flamingos. The zoo refused to let him strike again.
The World Is Finally Cracking Down on ‘Greenwashing’
The plan to stop companies from fudging their climate goals is fundamentally flawed.
No One Really Knows How Much COVID Is Silently Spreading … Again
More immunity and relaxed behavior add up to a new COVID mystery: How common is symptomless spread now?
The Lab Leak Will Haunt Us Forever
Each new revelation is a reminder of how little is actually known.
Is ‘Instinct’ Really Keeping Flaco the Owl Alive?
Flaco lived in the Central Park Zoo for nearly his entire life. When he broke free, he somehow managed to hunt.
A Growing Fear of Nature Could Hasten Its Destruction
Scientists are worried that modern life is aggravating biophobia.
‘Synchronous Spawning’ Has Been Baffling Scientists for Centuries
Bristle worms reproduce at the same hour every month. How do they do it?
Colds Haven’t Changed. So Why Do They Suddenly Feel So Bad?
We all forgot how nasty colds are.
A Basic Premise of Animal Conservation Looks Shakier Than Ever
Are we trying to save animals in the wrong places?
Junk Food Is Bad for You. Is It Bad for Raccoons?
Some wild animals that seem “too heavy” are doing just fine.
Every Coastal Home Is Now a Stick of Dynamite
Wealthy homeowners will escape flooding. The middle class can’t.
The Next Generation of Mosquito Factories
AI and automation are helping scientists breed even more bugs that are incapable of spreading Dengue fever.
Paleotsunamis Offer a Quiet Warning
Ancient tsunamis dwarf our modern defenses—and could be used to improve them.
Bird Flu Leaves the World With an Existential Choice
To prepare for future outbreaks, we’ll have to decide which is the greater danger: nature or ourselves.
A New Age of UFO Mania
Escalating from grainy videos of so-called aliens to fighter jets blowing things out of the sky will only fuel America’s obsession.
Eagles Are Falling, Bears Are Going Blind
Bird flu is already a tragedy.
Bring on the Boring EVs
The next step toward electric cars just becoming cars is playing out on your TV screen.
The ‘Small Self’ Effect
Being awe-inspired is good for you—and easy, if you know where to look.
The Cost of Killing Tiny Fish
Recreational anglers want a strong supply of Atlantic striped bass. They say that means protecting the tiny menhaden too.
A ‘Distinctly Human’ Trait That Might Actually Be Universal
Disgust is surprisingly common across nature.